One side of an incoming phonecall this morning:
"Oh, I see, your sister is at a sports festival and you wanted to ask where it was? How old is your sister? 96? Well, you see, it's a bit cold outside for a sports festival so I don't think there is one on today. You're having trouble? Have you been eating lately? I didn't bring lunch today so I'll go out to get some later. You're lonely? I'm sorry, is there someone nearby you can visit? No, I don't think there is a sports festival on right now."
We all listened to my coworkers conversation this morning. It lasted around 10minutes. Some were sighing, some saying how kind he was to talk to this lady for so long, others laughing. Nobody was surprised nor overly concerned for this poor lady. It happens all the time.
We have at least 2 over 80 regulars who come in or call up to complain about this or that. They collect paper clippings about the going on's in Hamamatsu and raise points over whether we are doing our job correctly or not. Every time they come in my coworkers are kind and patient. They listen to their frustration and non-related ramblings. They look through the folders of quite literally hundred of clippings from newspapers. And they understand that this is all probably happening because that person is lonely.
If your social event of the month is visiting a government office to make complaints, nobody can expect you to be happy.
The lady on the phone this morning was, I imagine, suffering from some kind of dementia. Jumping from topic to topic and referring to this 'sport festival' (ιεδΌ - held for students of Elementary and Junior High schools) her sister was attending. She sounded sweet but desperate for company.
When I think of the elderly in Japan I am constantly reminded of the ageing population. Older people working longer. Unlike in generations of the past where the children housed their parents in their old age they now have to take care of themselves in a lot of cases. More and more elderly men and women left out in the country side to tend their farms while the younger family members head to the city to make a living.
While long life due to progression in areas like health care is a thing to be grateful for I can't help but wonder what we can do to make life more enjoyable for this extended period of time. Especially in cultures like Japan where community is key.
It's not just here either. I read more and more how understaffed nursing homes are. How this leads to neglect both physically and emotionally.
As a person who left my own family to travel and seek bigger oppourtunities I do sometimes wonder what will happen to them should a tragedy occur or should I be too far away when they grow old and need me. Am I part of the problem?
Sometimes I judge too harshly those Japanese people who have left their ageing families and moved to cities. Is that not the same thing I have done?
As I wrote this another old man arrived at the counter. He sat down in the waiting area and my coworker went over to chat with them. I don't know what they are talking about but it does make me feel more positive when I think that there are people like my coworkers who are happy to take some time out of their busy day to speak to someone who really needs a friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment